Going on Parental Leave: Farewell Letters to Colleagues, Parents and Clients

The awkwardness is real: you are not leaving the company, so a grand farewell feels wrong — but saying nothing feels worse. The fix is to write three short messages instead of one long one.

Three Audiences, Three Letters

• The team chat — warm, short, names the person covering for you.
• Clients and partners — handover first, personal detail in one line.
• Your manager — the practical handover document, sent separately.

Templates

1. "Friday is my last day before parental leave. Thank you all — this team made the last four years genuinely good. Anna covers my projects from Monday; everything is written up in the shared folder. I am not disappearing — you have my personal number."
2. "From 15 September I will be on parental leave. Your account moves to Irina Sokolova (irina@…, +7 …), who already knows your project. Nothing changes on your side — same terms, same schedule."
3. "The stroller arrived and it is perfect — thank you all. Special thanks to Marina, who organised the whole thing."

If You Are a Teacher or Kindergarten Educator

Your audience is parents and children, not colleagues. Tell parents the date and who takes over — ideally the new teacher introduces themselves in the chat the same day.

1. "Dear parents, from 1 November I am going on maternity leave. Olga Sergeevna will lead the group — she is already getting to know the children. Thank you for your trust and for always helping when I asked. I will miss the kids."
2. To the children: "I am going on a long holiday because a baby is coming. Olga Sergeevna will play and learn with you now. I will think of you and ask how you are doing."

Frequently Asked Questions

What to write on the last day?

Date, thanks, who covers you, how to reach you.

How to tell clients?

Handover first, reason last.

What should a teacher write to parents before going on maternity leave?

Keep it short: the date you leave, who will take the class (ideally the new teacher introduces themselves in the chat), and a thank-you to parents. Do not promise a return date and keep pregnancy details out of the chat.